Research from Hebrew University indicates that socialising during mealtimes may help the body control blood glucose more effectively, highlighting the importance of companionship for health beyond nutrition.
A study led by researchers at Hebrew University in Jerusalem suggests that sharing a meal with a loved one may do more than improve the mood at the table: it may also help the body manage blood sugar more effectively. Published in Science Advances, the research found that after the same carbohydrate-rich meal, participants who ate with a close social partner had smaller spikes in blood glucose and returned to normal levels more quickly than those who ate alone.
The team, led by Shir Atzil, says the findings point to what it describes as “social physiology” – the idea that the human body may regulate itself more efficiently in the presence of trusted others. In reporting the study, EurekAlert said the researchers included Monia Masalha, a doctoral student at Hebrew University, and Shai Fuchs of Sheba Medical Centre. The work focused on a standardised meal, allowing the scientists to compare glucose responses in social and solitary settings.
Atzil said the results challenge the common assumption that the body works as a sealed, self-contained system. The study suggests that proximity to a person one loves may ease the physiological effort needed to maintain balance, even without physical contact. The researchers also reported that social presence appeared to help participants regulate body temperature in colder conditions and reduce stress responses in both adults and infants under 12 months old.
The new findings fit with earlier research pointing in the same direction. In 2023, the British Medical Journal reported that people aged 50 and older who lived with a partner tended to have lower average blood sugar than those living alone, regardless of whether the relationship was harmonious or strained. Separate research in 2021 from the Open University of Catalonia and the Autonomous University of Barcelona found that teenagers who regularly ate with family, avoided electronic devices at the table and talked comfortably with relatives were better able to recognise when they were full, a habit linked to lower obesity risk. Together, the studies add to a growing view that mealtimes can shape health in ways that go beyond nutrition alone.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
